IV-l

IV GEOLOGY AND MINING ACTIVITIES

1. GEOLOGY

All of the Youghiogheny Basin lies within the Applachian Plateaus Province. Some 30%, west of Chestnut Ridge, is in the Plateaus Section of the province and the rest is in the Allegheny Mountain Section.

A series of folds creates ridges and valleys which generally trend SW to NE. Folds east of Chestnut Ridge are closer and more uniform. West of Chestnut Ridge is more mountainous and includes Mt. Davis formed by the Anticline, and which is the highest point in , elev 3,213 ft.

Prominent structural features are shown in Figure 1. Those of particular importance to mine drainage pollution are, from west to east:

Important Important

Structure Strata Group

Pigeon Creek Syncline Monongahela Pittsburgh Irwin Syncline Monongahela Pittsburgh Greensburg Syncline Monongahela Pittsburgh Latrobe Syncline Monongahela Pittsburgh Uniontown Syncline Monongahela Pittsburgh Ligonier Syncline Allegheny L. Kittanning Centerville Dome Allegheny L. Freeport Negro Mt. Anticline Allegheny L. Kittanning & Brookville Berlin Syncline Monongahela Pittsburgh & Allegheny L. Kittanning & U. Kittanning

These geologic structures are discussed starting on page IV-4.

A generalized tabulation of the stratigraphy is included in Table IV-A. The Washington Group is not included since this has been eroded away except on a few hilltops in the deepest syncline basins. IV-2

Table IV-A, Geologic Strata

Age Group Thickness Members Thickness

Pennsylvanian Monongahela 260-400’ Waynesburg Coal 3 -9’ Waynesburg Limestone 0-20’ Uniontown Sandstone 10-20’ Uniontown Coal 0 -2’ Uniontown Limestone 25-45’ Benwood Limestone 30-60’ Sewickley Sandstone 0-60’ SEWICKLEY COAL* 0-10’ Fishpot Limestone 5-30’ REDSTONE COAL* 1 -5’ Redstone Limestone 5-20’ Pittsburgh Sandstone 12-70’ PITTSBURGH COAL** 6 -14’

Pennsylvanian Conemaugh 500-750’ Little Pittsburgh Coal 0-l Connellsville Sandstone 5 -50’ Clarksburg Limestone 0 -7’ Morgantown Sandstone 5 -120’ Birmingham Shale 50 -60’ L. Bakerstown Coal 0 -7’ Saltsburg Sandstone 20 -85’ Buffalo Sandstone 20 -60’ Brush Creek Coal 0 -5’ Mahoning Coal Thin Mahoning Sandstone 20 -120’

Pennsylvanian Allegheny 250-370’ UPPER FREEPORT COAL* 1 -15’ Butle Sandstone 10 -50’ LOWER FREEPORT COAL* 0 -4’ Freeport Sandstone 30 -60’ UPPER KITTANNING COAL* 0 -13’ Worthington Sandstone 10 -70’ Middle Kittanning Coal 0 -2’ LOWER KITTANNING COAL* 0 -4’ Kittanning Sandstone 10 -50’ CLARION COAL* 0 -6’ Clarion Sandstone 5 -50’ BROOKVILLE COAL* 0 -6’

Pennsylvanian Pottsville 65-250’ Homewood Sandstone 15-70’ Mercer Shale&Coal 1-50’ Connoquenessing Sandstone 10 -80’

Mississippian Mauch Chunk 0-310’ Wymps Gap Limestone 0 -110’ Loyalhanna Limestone 20 -60’

*Extensively mined **Most extensively mined

IV-4

A. Geologic Structures West of Chestnut Ridge

Five syncline basins west of Chestnut Ridge involve major mine drainage pollution problems:

-Pigeon Creek Syncline basin, at the SE corner of Allegheny County, extends to several watersheds including a sub-basin of the Monongahela River as well as the Gillespie Run sub-basin of the Youghiogheny.

-Irwin (Port Royal) Syncline basin, in the southwest part of Westmoreland County, extends to many sub-basins of the Sewick1ey Creek watershed and several small sub- basins of the Youghiogheny main-stem watershed.

-Greensburg Syncline basin, at the Greensburg area of Westmoreland County, extends to the Jacks Run watershed of Sewick1ey Creek and to the Crabtree Creek watershed of the Allegheny River basin.

-Latrobe Syncline basin, through the middle of Westmore- land County, extends to the Jacobs Creek and Sewick1ey Creek areas of the Youghiogheny and to the Loya1hanna basin of the Allegheny

-Uniontown Syncline basin, through the middle of Fayette County, extends to a number of surface watersheds including Galley and Hickman Runs of the Youghiogheny, and Redstone Creek of the Monongahela watershed.

(1) Pigeon Creek Syncline Basin

Pigeon Creek Syncline Basin, Figure 2, is in Allegheny County between the Youghiogheny and Monongahela Rivers. The uppermost strata are entirely Monongahela group and the Pittsburgh coal outcrop encompasses some 30 sq mi. Throughout the syncline basin, the coal seam is relatively flat with low points at; discharges M77 and M02 on the Youghiogheny side and, on the Monongahela side at the syncline axis.

Of many abandoned mines in the basin, Ocean Mine # 2 and the Warden Mine complex are the only ones with polluting discharges to the Youghiogheny. Possible discharges to the Monongahela were not investigated.

Discharges (MOl and M02) drain Warden Mine and other mines draining into Warden Mine. Ocean Mine # 2, directly north of Warden, is drained by dis charge (M77) through two brick arch drift openings side by side on the hillside above the Youghiogheny River. All three discharges are from the same coal seam at elevations in very close range (780-800). Character of drainage is shown on Table IV-B. IV-5

Table IV-B, Discharges to the Youghiogheny From Pigeon Creek Syncline Basin

Warden Mine Ocean #2 Station MOl M02 M77* Sample 6/69 6/69 5/68 MGD 0.17 1.7 0.8 pH 6.6 6.7 3.7

Mg/l: Acidity 0 0 170 Alkalinity 320 220 0 Iron 11 58 35 Sulfate 244 675 740

Lbs/day: Net acidity -450 -3100 1,200 Iron 15 800 240

*M77 analysis from EPA

There are no known surface water sink holes in the area. It is believed that water into the mines is infiltration through cracked walls and ceilings. Also, the discharge from Ocean Mine #2 probably includes drainage from the mined area northwest of Ocean #2. The discharges from Warden Mine are believed overflow from a large pool which collects mine waters from all directions of the syncline basin.

Ocean #2 discharge is believed to originate from mines of higher elevation to the northwest since its quality is significantly different from the Warden discharges.

Location of the present Warden discharges (MOl and M02), their alkaline quality and the history of pumping during active operation, suggest that these discharges are overflows from a mine water pool which may extend into the Monongahela River watershed.

IV-7

(2) Irwin (Port Royal) Syncline Basin

Irwin (Port Royal) syncline basin, Figure 3, is in the western part of Westmoreland County. The uppermost strata of the syncline is mostly Monongahela group with scattered small sections of younger Washington group on the top of the Monongahela group. The outcrop line of the Pitts- burgh coal at the base of the Monongahela group encompasses some 150 sq mi. Approximately one -third of the syncline basin surface, north of Irwin, drains into a tributary of the Monongahela River, while the rest drains into Sewickley Creek and the main stem of the Youghiogheny River.

Pittsburgh coal in the syncline basin has been mined extensively since the 1860's, and all but two, Hutchinson Mine (M13) and Banning # 4 (M16 and M17), are abandoned. The coal seam is pitched north to south with total drop of 600 feet and slopes up steeply from the syncline axis to the eastern outcrop line. The Youghiogheny River crossing the southern section of the syncline basin has exposed the coal seam below Sewickley Creek. The exposed coal seam near the mouth of Sewickley Creek is the lowest outcrop in the syncline basin, and mine drainages from the syncline basin are mostly in this vicinity. Discharges are listed in Table IV-C.

Table IV-C, Mine Drainage From Irwin Syncline Basin

Station M03 M04 M13 M14 M16 M17

Sample 6/10/69 6/10/69 6/4/69 6/2/69 6/2/69 6/9/69

MGD 1.6 3.2 4.1 4.5 2.0 2.4

pH 6.1 6.3 5.0 5.4 7.9 5.2

mg /l: acidity 10 10 320 320 0 640 alkalinity 0 128 0 0 100 0 iron 95 38 88 138 2 150 sulfate 1,220 725 1,450 750 930 1,220

lbs/day: net acidity 130 -3200 11,000 12,000 -1700 12,700 iron 1,240 1,000 3,000 5,200 40 3,000

NOTE: M03 -Shaner Mine drainage to Youghiogheny River. M04 -Guffey Mine drainage to Youghiogheny River. M13 -Hutchinson, active mine, discharge to Sewickley Creek. M14 -Keystone, Ocean & Marchand to Sewickley Creek. M16 -Banning Mine # 4, treatment plant discharge to Youghiogheny River. M17 -Banning Mine #4, pump discharge to be treated, to Youghiogheny River. IV-8

All but a small area near West Newton, where there are presently 4 two active operations (Hutchinson Mine and Banning Mine), has been mined out and filled with water. Water flowing into the mined out areas through outcrops and cracks is collected behind barrier pillars and is known to be held much like a large underground lake which overflows into a neighboring mine or an opening depending on a number of factors such as intactness of the barrier pillar, level of the mine water pool, and surface elevation.

Water problems at the Hutchinson Mine, the deepest mine in the syncline basin, has been described by E. P. Hall, "Hutchinson Mine - A Problem in Coal Mine Drainage" (Preprints No. 59F309, Society of Mining Engineers of AIME).

Hutchinson Mine is surrounded by Magee Mine to the east, Keystone and Ocean Mines to the north and Marchand Mine to the northwest. There is a drainage tunnel through the barrier pillar between Keystone and Ocean Mines to equalize their water levels. After abandonment of these mines, a rock tunnel was driven above coal seam at the barrier pillar between Ocean and Marchand Mines to lower the water level in Ocean. The present discharge (MI4) from Marchand Mine includes the mine waters from Keystone and Ocean Mines.

In order to continue the work in the remainder of the active mine, 4 water in Hutchinson Mine is pumped using four 4,200 gpm pumps. Annual average pumping time is 40 machine-hours per day and at times of extremely high-flow, all four pumps have been barely adequate. Water pumped from Hutchinson Mine includes the water flow from Magee Mine through connecting openings (3, 000 gpm) and leakage through the north barrier which separates Hutchinson from Keystone, Ocean and Marchand Mines. The barrier is a minimum of 96 feet in thickness and is subject to pres sure of as much as 233 feet of water head.

Mine discharges from Guffey Mine (M04) and Shaner Mine (M03) are also from the same coal seam but believed to be separated from Marchand Mine by old mine barriers.

When the Hutchinson Mine pumping stops, the mine will be flooded and mine water presently pumped will eventually join the present over- flow of Marchand Mine (MI4).

IV-10

(3) Greensburg Syncline Basin

The Greensburg Syncline Basin, Figure 4, is in the middle of Westmoreland County, between the Fayette and Grapeville Anticlines. The City of Greensburg is within the syncline basin.

Surface strata are primarily the Monongahela group, and the outcrop line of the encompasses 26.5 sq mi Pittsburgh coal outcrops at elevations 950 to 1300 ft and is deepest at elevation 750 ft in the center of the basin.

Surface of the syncline basin is divided into two watersheds. The southern half draining into Jacks Run (Sewickley Creek) of Youghiogheny system, and the northern half drains to a sub-tributary of Allegheny system.

There is only one major mine discharge (M32) which is located at the southern tip of the basin and discharges into Jacks Run. This discharge is from a drift opening at the lowest coal outcrop in the syncline basin.

Pittsburgh coal was extensively mined in the early 1900's by room and pillar method, and in later years most of the pillars were robbed. WPA mine maps show three major mine barriers completely crossing the base, which could form several compartmented mine water pools if the barriers are still intact. More recent mine maps are not available and the status of these mine barriers is uncertain.

IV-12

(4) Latrobe Syncline Basin

The Latrobe syncline basin, Figure 5, is in Westmoreland County. Surface strata is almost entirely Monongahela Group. The syncline basin outlined by the outcrops of the Pittsburgh coal seam, is a 25 mile long, 75 sq mi basin.

Pittsburgh coal was extensively mined throughout the syncline basin. It outcrops at elevations 950 to 1220 ft with two deep points at elevations 750 and 800 ft. The coal seam is 7 ft thick in the vicinity of Mammoth and Carpentertown and 8 ft thick near Stewart and Mt. Pleasant. In the Brinker- ton area, the higher, 3.5 ft thick Redstone seam was also deep and strip mined.

The northern half of the basin surface drains to Loyalhanna Creek of Allegheny river, while the southern half drains to Sewickley Creek and Stauffer Run (Jacobs Creek) of the Youghiogheny system. All known mine discharges from the basin into Youghiogheny River basin are listed in Table IV-D.

Table IV-D, Mine Drainage from Latrobe Syncline Basin.

Station M12 M11 MlO M09 M08 M07 M06 M05 M62* M63*

Sample 6/69 6/69 6/69 6/69 6/69 6/69 6/69 6/69 3/68 3/68

MGD 4.6 0.25 1.55 0.85 0.1 0.35 1.4 0.7 0.04 0.02

pH 6.2 3.1 6.6 6.6 3.5 7.6 6.0 3.1 2.4 2.5 mg/l: acidity 300 780 5 0 240 0 10 1,110 1710 1200 alkalinity 80 0 236 198 0 154 60 0 0 0 iron 156 66 121 36 51 9 56 115 312 186 sulfate 700 1,000 538 394 575 570 725 725 2340 1716 lbs/day: acidity 8,400 1,650 -3,000 -1,400 190 -450 -580 6,600 585 220 iron 6,000 140 1,600 260 40 30 640 680 110 30

NOTE: -MI0, M11 & M12 are to Sewickley Creek at the Brinkerton Overflow area. -M08 & M09 are to Boyer Run, tributary to Sewickley Creek. -M06 & M07 are to Wilson Run, tributary to Sewickley Creek. -M05 is to Buffalo Run, tributary to Sewickley Creek. -M62 & M63 are to Stauffer Run, tributary to Jacobs Creek.

*EPA data. IV-13

With the exception of MOS from the northwest corner of the syncline basin, all discharges from the syncline basin into the Youghiogheny watershed are at elevations of 960 to 990 ft. It is believed that most of these discharges are from the same mine water pool but possibly from different compartmented sections.

Known mine drainage discharges from the basin into Sewickley Creek total approximately 10 MGD. Discharges at the Brinkerton area (M12, MIl and MlO) are believed to be draining Hecla Mine #1 and #3, Brinkerton Mine, United, Mammoth and Calumet Mines. Two discharges (MOB and M09) on Boyer Run of Sewickley Creek are believed to be draining portions of Hecla Mine No.1, while the discharges (M06 and M07) on Wilson Run drain the area of the Standard and Central Mines. Discharge (MOS), draining Southwest Mine #3 into Buffalo Run at elevation 1060 ft is considerably higher than the other discharges in the syncline basin and is believed to be overflow of water trapped behind a barrier in Southwest #3.

IV-15

(5) Uniontown Syncline Basin

The Uniontown syncline basin trends northeast-southwest through the middle of Fayette County as shown in Figure 6. It is approximately 27 miles long, canoe-shaped, with a steeper eastern flank and a wide gradual sloping western flank.

Surface strata of the syncline basin is of Monongahela and Washington groups. Approximately 95 sq mi is within the Pittsburgh coal cropline, which is used herein to define the syncline basin boundaries. The Washington group covers some 20 sq mi of the Monongahela group. Approximately thirty per- cent of the syncline basin surface drains to the Yougbiogheny River system with the remainder draining into tributaries of the Monongahela River.

Two major streams cross the syncline basin. Redstone Creek of the Monongahela system runs through the middle of the basin and first intersects the Pittsburgh seam at elevation 920 ft. The Youghiogheny River runs through the basin near Connellsville and has cut through the coal seam west of Galley Run. The coal seam exposed by the river, elevation 830 ft, is the lowest outcrop in the syncline basin.

Pittsburgh coal has been extensively mined by drift and slope entries along the outcrop and by shaft in the center of the basin. This seam lies in . an ovated saucer shape with its lowest point, elevation 500 ft, at the center and sloping to outcrops at elevations ranging from 830 to 1,200 ft. There is no active mining in the basin.

Eight known mine drainages from the syncline basin are discharging into the Youghiogheny River as listed in Table IV-E.

Table IV -E, Mine Drainage from Uniontown Syncline Basin into Youghiogheny River

South of the Youghiogheny North of the Youghiogheny M19 M54 M55 M56* M20 M57 M58 M59

MGD 5.5 0.65 0.33 0.37 0.5 0.1 0.13 0.065

pH 6.2 4.0 3.3 5.0 4.4 3.2 3.7 3.2

mg/l: Acidity 80 100 275 130 1,440 500 350 500 Alkalinity 0 0 0 27 0 0 0 0 Iron 115 100 75 59 28 63 25 99 Sulfate 598 775 1,115 1,352 612 625 775 750

lbs/day: Net acidity 3,700 540 740 310 6,000 400 380 270 iron 5,300 540 200 180 110 50 30 50 *EPA Data IV-16

Although all drainages are from the same coal seam, there is no indication that the concerned mines are interconnected. Unfortunately, detail mine maps, other than WPA maps, are not available for the area.

The Adelaide discharge (M19), the largest in the basin, is a 5.5 MGD artesian-like discharge from an earth covered drift opening, this is believed an overflow of a large mine water pool, about 20 miles long and three miles wide, probably with some compartments created by mine barriers.

PHD records show that Leisenring Mine #1, south of Adelaide Mine, had 80 tons of acid per day discharged by pumping when the mine was active. Assuming 1,000 mg/l of acidity, over 15 MGD were being pumped from Leisenring. Since there are no records showing that the Adelaide discharge was present when this pumping was conducted, it is believed that Adelaide is overflow from a pool created after pumping stopped.

Discharges (M54 & M55) on the south bank of the Youghiogheny River are about the same elevation as M19, and they might very well be draining the same pool as M19.

IV-18

B. Geologic Structures East of Chestnut Ridge

(1) Ligonier Syncline

The Ligonier syncline, Figure 7, parallels the main stem of Indian Creek and has strong anticlines on each side, Laurel Hill on the east and Chestnut Ridge on the west. Conemaugh and Allegheny Groups are the predominant surface strata.

Lower Kittanning coal of the Alegheny Group was extensively mined in the areas where Indian Creek and its tributaries cut deep into the Allegheny deposits. Mining was active from the early 1900's until 1966.

(2) Centerville Dome, Negro Mt. Anticline and the Berlin Syncline All of the known mine drainage pollution problems in the sub- basin are related to these geologic structures which are shown in Figure 8. Structure, coal seam, discharges and related problem areas are:

Discharge Area

Centerville Dome L. Freeport coal M7l, M72 Rockwood - Hays (57) Negro Mt. Anticline L. Kittanning coal M37, M38, M66, M67, M68 Shamrock (55) Brookville coal M37 Shamrock (55) Brookville coal M69, M70 Wilson Creek (56) Berlin Syncline Pittsburgh coal M75 Goodtown (52) U. Kittanning coal M25, M34 Shober (53) U. Kittanning coal M73, M74 Ponfeigh (54) L. Kittanning coal M76 Pen Mar Mines (51)

NOTES: 1. Area numbers refer to Figure numbers in this report and locations shown on Figure 1.

2. Shaw Mines complex, outside the scope of this report, is related to Pittsburgh coal in the Berlin syncline.

IV-21

2. MINING ACTIVITIES Coal production within the basin dates from the late 1800's. It reached high levels from 1910 through the late 1940's and has fallen greatly since about 1950. Table IV-F lists estimates of reserves and production for four counties and estimates of 1970 production for the Youghiogheny basin portion of each county.

Table IV-F Bituminous Coal Production (Millions of Tons)

Allegheny Fayette Somerset Westmoreland

Original Reserve 4,000 5,000 6,000 6,000

Exhausted or Lost 1,000 1,300 400 1,500

Max. Annual Prod. 20.2 34 10.8 33.2 (year) (1913) (1916) (1927) (1913)

1970 Production 4.6 1.8 3.7 2.6

Estimated 1970 Production Youghio- gheny River Basin 0 0 2.0 1.0

Economically Important Coal Seams Red, Pgh Pgh, Sew BR, LK, UK Pgh, UF, Red UK, LK LF, UF LK, MK UF, LF Pgh, Sew Red

Locations and mines where the various seams have been mined within the basin are in Table IV-G. Cross reference listings of mines and mine discharge sample numbers are in Appendix A. IV-22

Table IV-G,Coal Seams Mined in the Youghiogheny River Basin

Area Discharge Coal Sub-basin Name No(1) Mine (2) No. (3)

Sewickley Casselman R Goodtown 52 Unknown M75

Redstone Sewickley Cr Brinkerton 22 Brinker Run MlO Casselman R Goodtown 52 Unknown M75

Pittsburgh Youghiogheny Galley Run 11 Henry Clay M20, M56

“” “” 11 Rist M57 “” “” 11 Tip Top M58, M59 “” Adelaide Sta 12 Adelaide M19, M54 “” “” 12 Fort Hill M55 “” Warden Mine 13 Warden MOl, MO2 “” “” 13 Ocean #2 M77 “” Guffey Sta 14 Guffey MO3 “” “” 14 Shaner MO4 “” Banning Mine Banning #4* M16, M17 Sewickley Cr Brinkerton 22 Brinkerton M1l, M12 “” Brinkerton 22 Hecla #1 MO8,MO9,M10 “” Jacks Run 23 Greensburg #2 M32 “” Wilson Run 24 Central MO6 “” Wilson Run 24 Stewart MO7 “” Buffalo Run 25 Southwest #3 MO5 “” Hutchinson 27 Hutchinson* M13 “” Marchand 28 Marchand M14 Jacobs Creek Stauffer R 31 Alverton M62, M63 Casselman R Goodtown 52 Quality #1, Wills #1, Gambert #2 M75

Upper Freeport Sewickley Cr Fayette Ant 26 Delmont* M50 (E Seam) “” Fayette Ant 26 Greensburg #4 M5l “” Fayette Ant 26 Ella M52

Lower Freeport Casselman R Rockwood 57 Rockwood #1 M7l (D Seam) “” Rockwood 57 Rockwood #1, Hays M72

Upper Kittanning CasselmanR Shober 53 Mt. Valley #2 M25, M34 (C Seam) “” Shober 53 Shober M25 “” Ponfeigh Mine 54 Ponfeigh #1A M73 “” Ponfeigh Mine 54 Ponfeigh #1 M74 IV-23

Table IV-G (cont)

Area Discharge

Coal Sub-basin Name No (1) Mine (2) No (3) Lower Kittanning Indian Creek L. Champion Cr 41 Coffman M60 (BSeam) “” Melcroft 42 Melcroft #1 M21,M43 M47,M48 “” Me1croft 42 Melcroft #3 M21, M23 M46 “” Poplar Run 43 Marston M61 “” Indian Creek Oneida M41 “” Indian Creek Big Chief M42 Casselman R Pen Mar Mines 51 Pen Mar #2 M76 “” Shamrock 55 Ruth M37, M38 “” Shamrock 55 Hocking M68 “” Shamrock 55 Mary Jeanne M66 “” Shamrock 55 MacGregor M67

Brookville Casselman R Shamrock 55 Betsy Slope M37 (A Seam) “” Wilson Creek 56 Fogle M69

“” Wilson Creek 56 Atlantic #2 M70

(1) See Figure 1, for location of area.

(2) Refer to App A Table 1 for mine name cross reference.

(3) Refer to App A Table 2 for mine discharge cross reference.

Active Mine*